Metallic golf-club head



Feb. 7, 1928.

A. G. TOBIA METALLIC GOLF CLUB HEAD Filed Sept. 19, 1927 INVENTORATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 192B i NT METALLIC GOLTF-CLUB HEAD.

Application filed September 19, 1927. Serial No. 2520,4155,

This invention relates in general to golf clubs and more particularly toa one-piece metallic head for golf-driver, and like clubs.

One object of the invention is to provide a metallic golf club headwhich is substantially hollow and cast of aluminum alloy or othersuitable metal, and which is provided with interior integralreinforcements which serve both as balancing weights for the head and toprevent collapse or warping; of the head as the result of use. 7

Other objects are to provide a metalli golf club head of the characterdescribed which has a plurality of integral intersecting reinforcingstruts or webs extending in a plurality, of directions certain of saidstruts serving to reinfoce the striking face of the head and othersofthe struts reinforcing the head vertically and longitudinally thereof,said struts meeting and intersecting at substantially the center ofgravity of the head so as to provide for proper balance and to enablethe maximum and desired character of blow to be applied to the golfball;to provide such a golf club head which can be simply cast or moulded andthe core withdrawn without difficu ty, and to obtain other advantagesand results as will be brought out inthe following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and likeparts are designated throughout the several views by the same referencecharacters,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a golf club embodying my invention, viewingthe same from the striking face thereof;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 22of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontalsectional view, taken on the line 33 of Figure1;

Figure 4: is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on the linel-tof Fig ure 2, and y Figure 5 is a sectional perspective view, takenon the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, thereference character A designates agolf club head which comprises aone-piece shell 1 which is cast of aluminum alloy or other suitablemetals in the shape and of the size desired. The head A is provided withan integral tubular neck 2 into which fitted the shaft B of the clubwhich may be secured to the head by suitable means such as the pin 3.The club head has the usual top portion C, toe portion D, sole or bottomportion E, heel F and rear portion G. The shell 1 is hollow except forintegral reinforcements about to be described, and has atthe front sidethere of a striking face f. v

The wall of the shel forming" the striking face preferably is of athickness corresponding to the thickness of the other walls ofthe shell,as'shown' in Figure 3 oflthe drawings. and is reinforced interiorly ofthe shell by a transverse strut 5 formed integral with the shelll andwith its axis disposed at substantially right anglestothe plane of thestriking face f and centrally thereof. Such a strut is preferablycircular or elliptical and larger in cross-section than the shell 1 soas to effect vely reinforce the striking face and to serve as abalancing weightfor the head. The head is reinforced against warping orcollapsing in directions between the so e and top portion might beincident to use of the club, by a strut 6 which merges into the strut 5intermediate their ends and at substantially; the center ofgravity ofthe head A, and is intcn'ral with the strut 5 and the shell 1. Forreinforcing: the head longitudinally between the toe andheel alongitudinal strut 7 is provided which intersects and merges into thestruts band 6 and is formed integral therewith. The struts 5, 6 and 7are disposed at substantially right anglesto each other. and at theirpoint of merging or intersection form a large mass of metal 8 which issubstantially at the center of gravity of the head and in spacedrelation to all points in the shell. A very desirable weight and balanceof the head is thus obtained, and at the same time the mass of the metalis so related to the striking face that a. blow resulting in a long andaccurate drive may be struck.

It will be observed that in this construction all portions of theinterior of the shell 1 communicate with each other and there are noclosed pockets or corners. The passage 9 through the tubular neck 2communicates with the interior of the shell, as clearly shown in Figurest and 5, and accordingly a core for casting the head may be easilywithdrawn from the interior of the shell through the passage 9. Casting;of the head is therefore extrenrxely snnple and g j H 1,658,581

practical, and obviously the sizes and proportions of the struts 5, 6and 7 may be readily varied.

Preferably a toe-strip 10 of steel is e1nbedded at the corner formed bythe intersection of the striking faced with'the bottom side of the club,as clearly shownuin Figures 1 and 2, said strip assuming the wearincident to the head striking the earth and thereby reinforcing thestriking face.

It will be understood that while the illustrated and describedembodiment of the invention is the now preferred form, the details ofconstruction of the head may be modified or changed by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Therefore, I do not desire to be understood as liniiting'inyself exceptas required by the following claims when construed in the light of theprior art. Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: 1. Ametallic golf club head comprising a shell having a striking faceportion, a rear portion, asole portion, a top portion, a toe portion andaheel portion, a strut inter posed between said striking face portionand said rear portion,a second strut interposed between said top portionand said sole portion, and a third strut interposed between said toeportion and said heel portion. 2. A metallic golf club head comprising ashell havin a striking face portion, a rear portion, a sole portion, atop portion, a toe portion and a heel portion, a strut interposedbetween said striking face portion and said rear portion, a second strutinterposed between said top portion and said sole portion, and a thirdstrut interposed between said toe portion and said heelportion,saidstruts being integral with each other and said shell. i

3. A metallic golf club head comprising shell having a striking faceportion, a rear portion, a sole portion and a top portion, a strutinterposed between said striking face portion and said rear portion, anda second strut interposed between said top portion and said soleportion, said struts being in spaced relation to all walls of said shellexcept those between which the struts are in terposed.

4. A metallic golf club head comprising a shell having a striking faceportion, a rear portion, a sole portion and a top portion, a strutinterposed between said striking face portion and said rear portion, anda second strut interposed between said top portion and said soleportion, said struts integrally merging into each other at a point inspaced relation to all walls of said shell;

5. A metallic golf club head comprising a one-piece cast metal shellhaving a plurality of integral angularl disposed struts between thewalls'thereof and in spaced relation to all of said Walls except thosebetween which the respective struts are interposed, and mergingintegrally into each other at substantially the center of gravity ofsaid head. i

6. A metallic golf club head comprising a shell having a striking faceportion, a rear portion, a sole portion and a top portion, a strutinterposed between said striking face portion and said rear portion, anda second strut interposed between said top portion and said soleportion, said struts being in spaced relation to all walls of said shell0:;- cept those between which the struts are in terposed, said shellalso having an integral tubular neck portion the passage through whichcommunicates with the interior of said shell.

ALEXANDER G. TOBIA.

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